New Jersey Healthcare Workers Will Picket 3 Nursing Homes

Nursing home caregivers at three facilities operated by Michael Konig, owner of Broadway Healthcare Management, plan to hold pickets this week to protest alleged unfair labor practices and to demand a contract guaranteeing them a path towards a $15 minimum wage, according to union organizers.

Labor union 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East stated that the three nursing homes — Amboy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Perth Amboy, ManhattanView Nursing Home in Union City and Teaneck Nursing Center in Teaneck — have staffing levels for certified nursing assistants (CNA) that fall below state averages on every shift, according to the most recent data available for each facility from the NJ Department of Health.

CNAs are responsible for providing most of the direct care at the bedside, including feeding, dressing, and bathing residents, the union stated.

“The overnight shifts are especially understaffed, with levels in the bottom 11 percent of all nursing homes in the state,” 1199SEIU representatives alleged.

Pickets are scheduled for the following locations and times:

• Union City: Tuesday, April 4, 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the ManhattanView Nursing Home, 3200 Hudson Avenue, Union City
• Perth Amboy: Wednesday April 5, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Amboy Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 1 Lindbergh Ave, Perth Amboy
• Teaneck: Thursday April 6, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Teaneck Nursing Center, 1104 Teaneck Rd, Teaneck

Caregivers alleged in a statement that a lack of sufficient staff at the three locations is making it difficult to provide quality, one-on-one care.

“I’ve worked here for over 30 years,” said Geraldine Ballentine, a certified nursing assistant at Teaneck. “We used to have six CNAs on the overnight shift, but now we only have four, which means I am responsible for caring for 26 residents on my floor. I want to be able to give special care and attention to each one, but it is so difficult with our current staffing levels.”

“I’ve worked at my facility for 10 years, and earn only $9.54 an hour,” said Claudia Moya, a dietary aide at ManhattanView. “The cost of everything is going up but I haven’t received a raise in years. It’s a struggle to even afford food.”

“Ensuring sufficient staffing levels for residents and adequate wages that don’t mire caregivers in poverty should be a baseline expectation for any nursing home employer,” said Milly Silva, 1199SEIU executive vice president. “Michael Konig must do the right thing for his residents and agree to fair contracts that make the necessary investments in stable jobs that protect quality care.”

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